Now read this: A footnote

I wrote about a Europe comes to Minneapolis sort of story reported by KSTP News in “‘Minnesota men’ at play.” The video of the KSTP News report is embedded in my post. KSTP News has pulled the written online version of the story, but I believe the video still plays. In the piece KSTP News has pulled from its site Brett Hoffland warily reported:

Minneapolis police are investigating a series of alleged “terroristic threats” made against people living in one neighborhood near Lake Calhoun.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS talked to a few neighbors on Thursday who say throughout the week, multiple young men have been harassing them.

After just moving to the neighborhood not too long ago, one woman, who wants to keep her identity hidden to protect herself from what happened on Monday, says she never expected this activity in that neighborhood.

“We couldn’t get them out. We didn’t know what to do,” one Minneapolis resident told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

According to a Minneapolis police report, between 20 and 30 young men showed up in front of a woman’s house about 9:30 in the morning and “the comments turned to threats.”

“They were screaming at the house that they were going to kidnap you and they were going to rape you,” one Minneapolis resident told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “It was a very traumatizing experience.”

The report indicates that these young men were driving onto the sidewalk and on the lawn, all while shooting off bottle rockets and screaming.

“It’s a scary thought especially for those who have young children,” one Minneapolis resident said.

Multiple neighbors even took cellphone video of the aftermath; some of the video shows the police talking with some of the young men.

“The entire neighborhood is up in arms,” one Minneapolis resident said.

It wasn’t just Monday. Neighbors say these visitors have stopped by the last three days. But on Monday, the alleged attacks were much more personal.

“It needs to get nipped in the bud before it gets any worse because the escalation that occurs over a matter of hours could potentially kill or harm someone,” one Minneapolis resident said.

One had to watch the video to learn that the 20 to 30 young men identified in the related police report are “Somali males.”

I also noted that the Star Tribune has failed to pick up on this story. The Star Tribune has maintained radio silence.

A friend wrote us to point out that the KSTP News has pulled Hoffland’s story from its site. He questioned the credibility of the woman’s account and asserted that KSTP News had pulled its story out of concerns about the woman’s credibility.

I asked a knowledgeable law enforcement source for his comment. He responded yesterday morning that the story has not been taken down because of concerns about the woman’s credibility. He tells me that the victim requested KSTP to take down or edit the video because it did such a bad job protecting her identity; she is concerned for her safety.

I continue to believe that this is a story deserving the attention of the Star Tribune.